I'm flying it upside down (closed) member banned

[Steeze]

Look the Navy botched a dental surgery while I was deployed... it left me with two missing teeth and permanent nerve damage. This was while I was deployed and they refused to send me to guam because it would cost too much. They didn't have the equipment they needed and the dentist didn't know what he was doing. I have pain in the left side of my face every day.

To top that off the VA is battling me hand and foot, never returning calls and emails.. they are med boarding me a few months before my contract ends. Yes I'm bitter... I enjoyed the navy. But I expect them to take care of my meds and healthcare. The pills I need are very expensive... they're trying their hardest to avoid me.

So yeah... I'm a little pissed. Trying to stay optimistic and not drink too much. I have a lot going on and alcohol has always been a crutch. I'm not perfect... but I'm trying to provide for my wife and kids the best I can. Sorry for the rant... at least I'm still somewhat coherent... and that's an accomplishment for me. If posting provocative **** like this on an xterra forum keeps me from slamming that bottle of whiskey then that's what I'm going to try. I need a little help.. not from anyone in particular.. I can handle my own issues. I'm scared of drinking.. and sometimes I need to talk **** out on the internet.... there's my story. I don't care what you think about me.. that's the truth...

Is that too much to ask?

 

[Steeze]

I'm sorry for offending some of you.. we all deserve respect and we all need to keep an open mind.

 

[Trexterra]

You have the freedom to express your opinions but to me this falls under the same category as attending public protests in uniform. I would never put myself in a situation where I could be seen protesting in uniform and since you drive your truck on base like that I would probably make you take it off if you were one of my soldiers. If you refused I would council on paper and then after that go to article. We sign away a lot of our rights when we volunteer to be a part of this military. You don't have the right to use the navy's image to do your protesting. My .02 from the Army side is to be the silent professional.


Sent from CoSprings

 

[Xterrafauss]

Express what you want to express. Do what you want to do. If you think it's right then do it. Just be careful as to not force it upon anyone. (Not saying that's what you are doing, just saying in general).

Thank you to all you that served and Steeze you have my sympathy for the medical trouble.

KCCO

 

[Steeze]

Express what you want to express. Do what you want to do. If you think it's right then do it. Just be careful as to not force it upon anyone. (Not saying that's what you are doing, just saying in general).

Thank you to all you that served and Steeze you have my sympathy for the medical trouble.




Thanks but im not looking for sympathy... i'm looking to the VA to take care of it.. step up and stop being so lazy. I'm sure you've all watched the news.. they are bad.. and they're treating us like ****. I believe what I'm doing is right... Snowden's gonna leak some big **** soon... and I think the people are going to know whats really going on. The US is in trouble....

 

[Steeze]

You have the freedom to express your opinions but to me this falls under the same category as attending public protests in uniform. I would never put myself in a situation where I could be seen protesting in uniform and since you drive your truck on base like that I would probably make you take it off if you were one of my soldiers. If you refused I would council on paper and then after that go to article. We sign away a lot of our rights when we volunteer to be a part of this military. You don't have the right to use the navy's image to do your protesting. My .02 from the Army side is to be the silent professional.


Sent from CoSprings

Fair enough and I respect your opinion.. different branches I suppose. I think I would've enjoyed the airforce more..

I asked to go to occupy wall street in uniform when it was going on in Seattle... I was denied... but you bet your ass I considered disobeying that order... there are such things as unlawful orders. Think for yourself... the army has you.

I have less than 90 days left and i'm not an idiot.. If they ask me to remove it I will.. but'll i'll tell them to pull the book first.. i'll put up a fight.. just not a disorderly fight. Oh and news flash... this has been done by active duty before... I drive through the gate everyday with upside down flags on my motorcycle, my motorcycle jacket, and the snorkel of my Xterra..

You think they don't notice that ****... whether it's an MP or and MA they respect it.. they applaud the courage and they understand it. Open your mind soldier.. it's not what you think it is.

You are right... a silent, obedient professional... that's what they want. They own you soldier... your an asset to them. Congrats on your brainwashing. I hope you figure it out one day... My chief is starting to figure it out.. after 24 years in the navy ruined his marriage. The list goes on... were both patriots brother... just differing views. Good luck and stay safe.. this war isn't worth dying over.

 

[Steeze]

As promised... boobs...

 

[Steeze]

You have the freedom to express your opinions but to me this falls under the same category as attending public protests in uniform. I would never put myself in a situation where I could be seen protesting in uniform and since you drive your truck on base like that I would probably make you take it off if you were one of my soldiers. If you refused I would council on paper and then after that go to article. We sign away a lot of our rights when we volunteer to be a part of this military. You don't have the right to use the navy's image to do your protesting. My .02 from the Army side is to be the silent professional.


Sent from CoSprings

I'll leave this here for you.. inform yourself before you form closed minded opinions.. This just recently happened with some flight pilots here on Whidbey Island... Im not the only one... I have my reasons for distress... other have their reasons.. maybe it's crippling student loans, or obamacare... or gun rights

Leave the reason out of it if you want.. just show your concern and respect that other's feel concerned too

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...d-to-protesters-holding-u-s-flag-upside-down/

 

[Steeze]

Steeze, I respect your decision to display the flag inverted as a distress signal. The freedom to make that statement is part of why you joined the Navy in the first place, and I will always stand in line to thank you for that. I do feel the nation is indeed enduring a time of distress, but I also feel that US Code Chapter 4 Title 8, leaves "distress" slightly open to interpretation. I interpret it to mean an immediate danger to persons that can be solved by quick direct action, such as extinguishing a fire. The actions required to resolve this nation's problems, if such a thing is possible, will be neither quick nor direct. As such, I will choose to display my flag proudly, not as a distress signal, but as a symbol of the many great things this nation has been and still can be if we work towards that greatness. Do we have problems? Yes. Can they be fixed in a day? No. But they can be fixed. It will start with education. Not public education, but the sort that starts at home. I see it happening already in my state, a movement amongst the youth, to rid our state legislature of politicians who think the answer to everything is needless spending of our tax dollars. It is already beginning. Hopefully it is an idea that will spread further, an idea that things can be right, but that the only way it will happen is if we do it through the tools our nation's fathers gave us, namely the rights to vote, to speak out, to write freely.

Mad Respect!!! I totally agree and get it... it's just hurt me and my family more than others... I'm relying on that disability paycheck and that health insurance... It means a great deal to me. The Veterans Affairs have done nothing for me... They won't return calls, or emails, they wont talk to me and I know they have the information I need. I have to plan for my family and my separation.. tell me what I need to know and I know you know... and i'll leave the VA alone. They owe it to us service members... what happens when I run out of meds? For **** they botched..

So yeah i'm greatly effected... and I'm bitter.. fly it how you want.. I don't care... I'm just ranting.. like I said there's a bottle of Kraken staring me in the face.

 

[Steeze]

Remember no politics on the forum..
Keep it friendly or this will be gone..


I don't need to know a why.. Just play nice


This goes to EVERYONE here

Roger that Dave! Ill play nice

 

[Steeze]

Agreed,we as a nation are in distress no question.
(As a former peice of U.S.N. property who's had experiance with article 134,be careful)

Noted! I don't need UCMJ ****.. but I feel I have an understanding chain of command.. I won't cross the line... but I won't sit silently like our soldier friend.

 

[Steeze]

I said what I needed to say... you can join me or sit silent. The offer's on the table. I'll make sure to post a pic when I do it... if the thread or I am still around.

 

[Pro-2X]

I too am a disabled veteran who was screwed by the VA. I fractured 5 vertebrae and have a mass of problems. I only receive 10%. The VA denied my requests for education benefits that I paid into and earned, but I am not bitter. Our country is not in distress. The people who are trying to make our country worse would love to see the flags upside down. I will fly my flag proudly because I understand the actions of a few misdirected politicians politicians cannot put the greatest country in the world in distress. All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
Sent from my RM-940_nam_att_200 using Tapatalk

 

[Trexterra]

Well I'm not sure how I'm being close minded. I never said you were wrong for flying a flag upside down. I never said that you weren't in distress or questioned anyone's personnel issues with govt, va, or politics. Simply stated that I do not tolerate Soldiers protesting in uniform and that if you drive to work in uniform with an upside down flag you are doing just that. Fly it upside down at home or on your build thread I don't care. You wouldn't have posted on this forum if you didn't want peoples opinions. I've been in the service 7 years now and I'm pretty sure I know enough that I'm not forming a close minded opinion.


Sent from CoSprings

 

[ThePlasticOne]

it ruins it for everyone when someones gotta get political
and now we find out which side of the specturm people we might like regarding Xterras now fall and it colors our perceptions for all subsequent post.

Because people let their perceptions get colored and are not willing to be constructive about their differences.

 

[Steeze]

I too am a disabled veteran who was screwed by the VA. I fractured 5 vertebrae and have a mass of problems. I only receive 10%. The VA denied my requests for education benefits that I paid into and earned, but I am not bitter. Our country is not in distress. The people who are trying to make our country worse would love to see the flags upside down. I will fly my flag proudly because I understand the actions of a few misdirected politicians politicians cannot put the greatest country in the world in distress. All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
Sent from my RM-940_nam_att_200 using Tapatalk

To each his own I guess... wait... A few!!! Just a few misguided politicians... you are much nicer than me. Hate to break this to you but 99% of them are corrupt.

Love the last little quote.... the irony is strong with you...

The government/corporations etc. IS EVIL.... and you are obediently doing nothing... They are about to take over this country and when/if these Snowden docs leak in a few weeks. You'll see just how evil big brother is. Not to offend you and you can think this country is great.... it is great.. but it's without a doubt in distress. Whether you want to admit it or not.. in some way or fashion you're life and property is at risk. That's why I won't sit by as a good law-abiding citizen and do nothing when I know and we all should know... its about to be a bumpy ride.

 

[robcarync]

Oh wow...what to say about this thread...seems to be a hot topic for discussion...but who am I if not a wonderful conversationalist? For the record, I am not taking sides, but offering some observations from this thread:

1) Steez thanks for your service, and thanks for posting this thread. Whether it offends people or not, I find your experiences very interesting. You have a certain 'real talk" style...unfiltered opinions and thoughts from someone that has experienced a lot.

2) The flip side of #1 is that the delivery of your message is pretty abrasive, which I am sure puts off a few people. My guess is, as you have stated in this thread already, you don't care about other people's opinion if they disagree with you, they just aren't allowed to post in your thread. You are quick to call people close minded because they disagree with you, but as you have explained, these opinions and world views that you have seem to be completely framed by your personal experiences and less than satisfactory service from the VA. I think it would be close minded to take your personal experiences and extrapolate that to a global truth.

3) All politicians and blindly partisan voters that lack critical thinking skills are putting this country in distress. I am not touching on anything else, politically.

4) On a constructive note, what do you think can help change this country (not getting too political) for the better? Any ideas for what we as normal citizens can do? My only hope is that with the explosion of social media and youtube, in another 15 years, we will have an entire voting population that can be reached online. Perhaps an entire campaign can be done with free/cheap resources to get a message out, and it won't require private jets and celebrity friends to get elected. Then again, that could easily turn into the worst spam campaign ever.

 

[Steeze]

Well I'm not sure how I'm being close minded. I never said you were wrong for flying a flag upside down. I never said that you weren't in distress or questioned anyone's personnel issues with govt, va, or politics. Simply stated that I do not tolerate Soldiers protesting in uniform and that if you drive to work in uniform with an upside down flag you are doing just that. Fly it upside down at home or on your build thread I don't care. You wouldn't have posted on this forum if you didn't want peoples opinions. I've been in the service 7 years now and I'm pretty sure I know enough that I'm not forming a close minded opinion.


Sent from CoSprings

The uniform is a powerful symbol... much like our country's flag. No matter what the color of the digi's they are more than just a shirt and pants. When I want to send a powerful message, I'm going to do it tactfully and in no way disrespect the uniform. I see why you wouldn't tolerate it.. I know a lot of Sailors and Marines that wouldn't tolerate it either... But I also know a lot that do. They not only tolerate it.. they applaud it.. they recognize what I'm doing and i'm doing it respectfully and tactfully. I'm not here to start a fight... and I value your opinion. I will do what I feel is right... and im not going to hide behind the uniform.

I've been in the service 7 years now and I'm pretty sure I know enough that I'm not forming a close minded opinion.

Please don't take this the wrong way... but you sound pretty unsure about what you know...you sound unsure about everything... and you have a close minded opinion... the Army helped with that. My father in law did 24 years in the Marines... the Marines did the same thing. He's very close minded... Doesn't matter the branch... they don't want you to think for yourself. Just follow the orders appointed over me....

Well I followed those orders... no matter how badly I wanted not to. I followed orders that were not just morally unjust but pushed me ethically. These orders were flat out illegal. I was given an order to throw 1000's of lbs of trash into the sea.. off the coast of hawaii. I decided that order was an unlawful order and I would not follow. I will not throw garbage into the ocean.. find some other moron to do that.

I was written up for it... article 92 ( I think) failure to obey a lawful order...

But I'm glad I did it. After explaining myself to the Chief's mess, they shredded the paperwork and we never spoke of it again. The navy can do some amazing stuff... but they can't figure out what to do with all the trash... except throw it in the ocean for months and months... shame on the Navy for that.

 

[robcarync]

To each his own I guess... wait... A few!!! Just a few misguided politicians... you are much nicer than me. Hate to break this to you but 99% of them are corrupt.

Love the last little quote.... the irony is strong with you...

The government/corporations etc. IS EVIL.... and you are obediently doing nothing... They are about to take over this country and when/if these Snowden docs leak in a few weeks. You'll see just how evil big brother is. Not to offend you and you can think this country is great.... it is great.. but it's without a doubt in distress. Whether you want to admit it or not.. in some way or fashion you're life and property is at risk. That's why I won't sit by as a good law-abiding citizen and do nothing when I know and we all should know... its about to be a bumpy ride.

Maybe a little nit picky...but I don't think the government or corporations are evil in and of themselves. I think they SHOULD be a form of checks and balances. Government regulates for profit companies so that they don't exploit the environment, workers (room for debate there on whether they still do, some are better than others) to make more money. Government should provide necessary public services where there is a conflict of interest when a profit may be involved (health care, education), or public infrastructure that is necessary to keep us modern and competitive (highways, bridges, etc). Can anyone tell me why my local electric company is a FOR PROFIT company instead of a public utility...when I have no other option for service? I either use candles or pay whatever they want to charge me!

I think the biggest issue with corporations and government, is when they collude and they now both are on the same team to increase profit, increase power, increase their own personal resume. What should have competing goals (profit vs. public interest) now has common goals (power and money).

 

[Steeze]

Oh wow...what to say about this thread...seems to be a hot topic for discussion...but who am I if not a wonderful conversationalist? For the record, I am not taking sides, but offering some observations from this thread:

1) Steez thanks for your service, and thanks for posting this thread. Whether it offends people or not, I find your experiences very interesting. You have a certain 'real talk" style...unfiltered opinions and thoughts from someone that has experienced a lot.

2) The flip side of #1 is that the delivery of your message is pretty abrasive, which I am sure puts off a few people. My guess is, as you have stated in this thread already, you don't care about other people's opinion if they disagree with you, they just aren't allowed to post in your thread. You are quick to call people close minded because they disagree with you, but as you have explained, these opinions and world views that you have seem to be completely framed by your personal experiences and less than satisfactory service from the VA. I think it would be close minded to take your personal experiences and extrapolate that to a global truth.

3) All politicians and blindly partisan voters that lack critical thinking skills are putting this country in distress. I am not touching on anything else, politically.

4) On a constructive note, what do you think can help change this country (not getting too political) for the better? Any ideas for what we as normal citizens can do? My only hope is that with the explosion of social media and youtube, in another 15 years, we will have an entire voting population that can be reached online. Perhaps an entire campaign can be done with free/cheap resources to get a message out, and it won't require private jets and celebrity friends to get elected. Then again, that could easily turn into the worst spam campaign ever.

Thanks for everything you posted.. I agree that I can be abrasive... I apologize for that.. but life is abrasive and I'm gonna give it you without the bull****. I'm trying to keep an open mind as well.. it's tough... but I'm learning like everyone else. All I can do is share my experiences, try and keep it cool in here and protest it peacefully. I don't know how to fix this country... but awareness is a good start. I bet if a good chunk of the population flew their flag upside down in a few days... something.. someone is going to notice. The government should be afraid of us... I don't need to explain this to you..

You obviously know what you're talking about and I want you opinion.. I want the discussion because it's important to have. No matter what the forum.

I don't care about ChrisHaynesUSA opinion.. he's probably plotting to assassinate me or something lol. He's from an older generation that was more... oppressed...

I on the flip side am a millenial.. I believe in progression, tolerance, sustainability, peace and secularism and I believe we are being mislead by those we voted. So my first step is to peacefully raise awareness on the most important day of the year... This is about freedom without fear.

I'm not an expert on anything... but I do try and inform myself.. read news from many sources and try and get the best information I can. I also have some intel that will not be shared on a public forum as it would put me and my family at risk. Some serious **** is about to go down with Edward Snowden... be ready.

 

[drbandkgb]

I'm flying it upside down

That's enough...

This is shut down.. Any one else start a political thread and you will be banned...

No ifs ands or butts..

Steeze has been banned for trying to stir up the forum.

If you take issue with this please feel free to PM me and we can discuss it.